Antigonish County

Antigonish County is a county in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It is located in northern Nova Scotia on the Northumberland Strait. The Town of Antigonish and Municipality of the County of Antigonish are the two largest incorporated municipalities in the county.

Antigonish County

Gaelic: Siorramachd Antaiginis
Seal
Nickname(s): 
The Nish
Location of Antigonish County, Nova Scotia
Coordinates: 45°36′N 61°54′W
Country Canada
Province Nova Scotia
TownsAntigonish
MunicipalitiesMunicipality of the County of Antigonish
EstablishedDecember 16, 1785
IncorporatedApril 17, 1879
Electoral Districts      
Federal

Central Nova
Cape Breton-Canso
ProvincialAntigonish
Government
  TypeAntigonish County Municipal Council
  WardenRussell Boucher[1]
  MLARandy Delorey (Liberal)[2]
  MP (Central Nova)Sean Fraser (L)[3]
  MP (Cape Breton-Canso)Rodger Cuzner (L)[4]
Area
  Land1,457.81 km2 (562.86 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[5][6]
  Total19,301
  Density13.2/km2 (34/sq mi)
  Change 2011-16
1.5%
Time zoneUTC-4 (AST)
  Summer (DST)UTC-3 (ADT)
Area code(s)902
Dwellings9,842
Median Earnings*$49,581
NTS Map011F12
GNBC CodeCBUCC
Websitewww.antigonishcounty.ns.ca
  • Median household income, 2005 (all households)

History

The County of Sydney was created in 1784. The Governor and Council established its boundaries on December 16, 1785.

When St. Mary's Township was established in 1818 it was partly in Sydney County and partly in Halifax County. In 1822 that part of St. Mary's Township which had been in Halifax County was annexed to the County of Sydney.

In 1836 Sydney County was diminished in size when Guysborough County was established out of what had been part of it. In 1863 the name of the County of Sydney was changed to Antigonish County. The word Antigonish is of Mi'kmaq origin, possibly derived from Nalegitkoonecht meaning "where branches are torn off". It is said that there were bears in the area that broke down branches to get beech nuts.

In 1879, the province officially incorporated the County of Antigonish as a municipality.[7]

In 2001, the Town of Antigonish applied to annex 1,600 hectares from the surrounding county so it could expand. The Municipality responded that the annexation would hurt its tax base so it instead applied for a total merger, or amalgamation. The issue was sent to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board, and in 2005 it was decided that amalgamation of the Town and Municipality would better serve both parties. The board also ordered a plebiscite, promising to consider the results when making a final decision. The results were mixed, with 84% of Municipality residents voting yes to amalgamation and 74% of Town residents voting no. Voter turn-out was 45%. The board ultimately rejected the proposal for amalgamation, citing lack of public support.[8]

Demographics

As a census division in the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Antigonish County recorded a population of 19,301 living in 8,129 of its 9,842 total private dwellings, a change of -1.5% from its 2011 population of 19,589. With a land area of 1,457.99 km2 (562.93 sq mi), it had a population density of 13.2/km2 (34.3/sq mi) in 2016.[9]

Forming the majority of the Antigonish County census division, the Municipality of the County of Antigonish recorded a population of 14,584 living in 6,001 of its 7,112 total private dwellings in the 2016 Census of Population, a change of -0.7% from its 2011 population of 14,692. With a land area of 1,450.27 km2 (559.95 sq mi), it had a population density of 10.1/km2 (26.0/sq mi) in 2016.[10]

Communities

Towns

Villages

Reserves

Census subdivisions

  • Antigonish Subdivision A
  • Antigonish Subdivision B

Major highways

Highways and numbered routes that run through the county, including external routes that start or finish at the county limits:[15]

Protected areas

Antigonish Landing Wildlife Area
  • Arisaig Provincial Park
  • Antigonish Landing
  • Bayfield Provincial Park
  • Beaver Mountain Provincial Park
  • Eigg Mountain-James River Wilderness Area
  • Pomquet Beach Provincial Park[16]

Notable residents

See also

References

  1. "Municipal Council". Municipality of the County of Antigonish. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
  2. "Honourable Randy Delorey (Liberal)". Nova Scotia Legislature. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  3. "Sean Fraser". Parliament of Canada. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  4. "Rodger Cuzner". Parliament of Canada. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  5. 2006 Statistics Canada Community Profile: Antigonish County, Nova Scotia
  6. Statistics Canada Population and dwelling counts, for Canada and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses – 100% data
  7. "Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing". Communications Nova Scotia. 2018-12-08. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
  8. "Antigonish (Town), Re, 2006 NSUARB 112 (CanLII)". Canadian Legal Information Institute. 31 October 2006. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  9. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census divisions, 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Nova Scotia)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  10. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Nova Scotia)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  11. Censuses 1871-1941
  12. Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census
  13. Statistics Canada: 2011 census
  14. 2006 Statistics Canada Census Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada: Antigonish County, Nova Scotia
  15. Atlantic Canada Back Road Atlas ISBN 978-1-55368-618-7 Pages 53-54, 69-71
  16. "Day Use Parks". Nova Scotia Provincial Parks. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
  17. Stringer Sergeant Lewis John Stringer, C.V., C.D.


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